Online supermarket Ocado is calling for small food and drink producers from across the country to battle it out to be crowned Britain’s Next Top Supplier.
The winner of the competition will see their product stocked at Ocado and will also receive a £20,000 marketing package.
Now in its third year, Britain’s Next Top Supplier will see entrants pitch their product to Ocado buyers. The competition is aimed at producers who want to grow their business but need a helping hand and some expert guidance on how to get in front of a major retailer.
Previous winner Hannah Rhodes of Hiver Beer has since been able to expand from a small scale start-up into a successful business, with Hiver’s sales growing five times faster than the rest of Ocado’s beer category in 2016.
Ocado chairman Stuart Rose says, ‘Britain’s Next Top Supplier aims to uncover the latest and greatest food or drink innovations the country has to offer. There are some truly fantastic producers in the UK and this competition could change their lives overnight, as winning would give even the smallest business the opportunity to distribute their product to Ocado customers across the nation.’
Head buyer at Ocado and judge Rose Price adds, ‘The winning product will have great customer appeal and offer them something they can’t find anywhere else, but it isn’t just about having a brilliant product. I’ll also be looking for a passionate supplier with some entrepreneurial flair and the willingness to work with us to make our partnership a success.’
Entrants should visit supplyocado.com/bnts for more information. To qualify, suppliers can only offer a food or drink product not currently stocked at Asda, Waitrose, Morrisons, Tesco or Sainsbury’s. The competition closes on April 17th.
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